A 90-minute exercise session performed after a vaccine injection “significantly” increases the effectiveness of the inoculation, and this, “several weeks” after the injection, shows an American study.
No need for very intense exercises to “increase” the benefits of the vaccine, specifies the article published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The practice of a “low to moderate” intensity sport, such as walking, is enough to improve our immune protection.
Moving only 45 minutes after an injection also produces beneficial effects, but to a lesser degree, it is specified.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers tested their hypothesis on three vaccines: the vaccine developed in 2009 against H1N1 influenza, the vaccine against seasonal influenza and that of Pfizer-BioNTech against COVID-19. Guinea pigs began training within 30 minutes of inoculation.
Four weeks after the vaccination, the scientists were able to detect the presence of antibodies in greater numbers in a “significant” proportion.
What’s more, no difference in side effects was found between “active” individuals and those who had not exercised.
If the benefits of physical activity are thus demonstrated once again, “the mechanisms that explain the association between exercise and the response to vaccines remain speculative”, specify the researchers.
This text is taken from our newsletter “Coronavirus mail” of February 14, 2022. To subscribe, click here.